Buxton Mountain Rescue Team

Harpur Hill Quarries

Call out for year:65

Date:12/09/10

Time:3:28 pm

Grid ref:SK 062 703

Type of incident:ClimberInjured(2)

Team members involved:15

Time taken:1.5 hours

Total man hours:22.5

Incident report

Buxton Mountain Rescue Team called to the disused limestone quarries at Harpur Hill above Buxton. The quarry, long since abandoned, is a mecca for serious climbers offering a number of quality routes both free and aided. The down side of the is that, like most old quarries, the rock can be unstable following blasting and years of water / frost penetration.

Two mature climbers were attempting an E5 route known as Hollowman when the leader allegedly dislodged a loose flake of limestone which crashed to the ground striking a glancing blow to his belaying partner. The belayer, a 63 year old man from Stourbridge suffered shoulder, back and arm injuries and was treated on site by team first aiders. East Midlands Air-ambulance was quickly on site and after a short transfer by the rescue team to the aircraft, he was flown to a Staffordshire hospital for further assessment. The climber, a 56 year old male from Kidderminster, fell from the rock face when the accident happened but was held by his rope and an auto-locking belay device. He suffered minor back injuries and was taken to a Stockport hospital for a check-up.

Photos: The 5E route, Hollowman. Team members and Air-ambulance paramedic tend to the casualty.

One comment

martyn petersSeptember 14th, 2010 at 7:12 pm

hello to all you good people a buxton mountain rescue. martyn here sending a big thank you for the excellent job you all did stabilising me and stretchering me to the air ambulance. i’m sure it’s all in a days work to you but i know the amount af work that goes into making an operation like this run so well. please excuse the lack of capitals i’m typing this left handed. the surgeons pinned my right elbow on sunday night and i am now back home. i shall be making a donation to your cause and if you let me know which pub you drink in i will buy you beer next time i am in the area.